IT system showed flaws ‘as early as 1999 pilot scheme’

A HORIZON IT pilot scheme first showed up major flaws 25 years ago, prompting a warning to the Post Office that a “tragedy was not far away”.

Sub-postmasters testing out the new system compiled a litany of complaints in seven pages of notes submitted to the Post Office.

The trials ran in 300 branches in the North East in 1999, prior to its roll-out to 18,000 branches.

Details of the note emerged during the public inquiry into the Horizon scandal but appear to have been ignored.

Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly prosecuted and at least four people committed suicide as a consequence of being wrongly accused of fraud and theft over the next 15 years.

Minutes, taken at a meeting of the National Federation of Sub-postmasters (NFSP) held at Newcastle Rugby Club in June 1999, stated: “There was general discussion on the severe difficulties being experienced by sub-postmasters who are already running an automated system.

“The difficulties and trauma being experienced by some sub-postmasters were giving rise to concerns for their health and emotional wellbeing. It was felt by some that a tragedy was not far away if something was not altered.”

The NFSP described the software as “poor quality and not intended to run such a huge network”.

The Horizon system falsely attributed losses and discrepancies that led to private prosecutions of sub-postmasters brought by the Post Office.

Labour MP Kevan Jones, a member of the Horizon compensation advisory board who has campaigned for justice, said he was aware of three prosecutions brought against sub-postmasters who had used Horizon during the pilot programme. He said a fourth sub-postmaster had been bankrupted as a result of being on the pilot programme.